Method and system for utilizing fabric as storage medium

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a digital technology based on fabric weave for the encoding, identification and decoding of information. A method for storing information in fabric based on weaving, knitting, braiding or other yarn interlacing styles, comprising: inputting information into a computer; converting each unit of the information to a corresponding unit of a binary code; converting each the corresponding code unit into a unit matrix of weave code presenting by 0 and 1; or converting each unit of the information to a unit matrix of weave code presenting by 0 and 1 directly; generating a weave code matrix consisting of all the unit matrixes; manufacturing a piece of fabric according to the weave code matrix, wherein 1 represents warp on a weft and 0 represents weft on a warp.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a method and system for utilizing fabric asstorage medium, which has the function of information encoding anddecoding based on weave code for the application of informationrecording, transferring, protecting, logical operating and informationmanagement.

2. Description of Related Arts

The weave pattern of woven fabric can be considered as its fingerprintor DNA; each weave pattern is uniquely endowed by a set of yarninterlacing styles with its own yarn count, density and other structuralparameters. However, the understanding and utilization of weave is stilllimited to fabric designing and manufacturing for wearing function. Theability of representing and carrying information based on the weave offabric has been omitted till now.

The natural and unique property of woven fabrics can aid in thedevelopment of smart digital products. As all other forms of paperprinting, fabric can also be used for information representation andtransmission. Furthermore, fabrics embedded with weave codes generallyhave a much higher resistance to environment changes.

In the past ten years, many researchers have been engaged in thedevelopment of objective evaluation system for the identification offabric weave, which is a digital tool for fabric designing andre-engineering instead of manual operation based on pin and human eyes,however, some limitations of these image-based methods make it difficultto be accepted for the real industry applications. In our invention, wefind a new concept based on image scanning and analysis to solve thisproblem—that is weave code, which is the digital language of weaving.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an encoding,identification and decoding method and system based on fabric weave,which has lots of potential applications, such as productidentification, quality control, product tracing, development ofauthorizable ribbon products, copyright protection of weave design,wearable ID system, etc.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above object, on one aspect, thepresent invention provides a method for storing information in fabricbased on weaving, knitting, braiding or other yarn interlacing styles,comprising the steps of:

-   -   information inputting, including text input from keyboard,        visual signals input from digital camera, scanner and other        digital facilities, audio signals input from recorder and other        facilities;    -   converting each unit of the information into a corresponding        unit of a binary code;    -   converting each the corresponding code unit into a unit matrix        of weave code presenting by 0 and 1;    -   converting each unit of the information into a unit matrix of        weave code presenting by 0 and 1 directly;    -   generating a weave code matrix consisting of all the unit        matrixes;    -   manufacturing a piece of fabric according to the weave code        matrix, wherein 1 represents warp on a weft and 0 represents        weft on a warp.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is a providedencoding and decoding mechanism for the purpose of convertinginformation into weave code and its reverse. Information including text,visual and audio signals could be coded or decoded separatelyaccordingly.

The invention provides the description of three basic weave code types:one dimensional weave code, two dimensional weave code, and color weavecode. All of them can be utilized for the development of weave codeproducts. The basic structure map of weave code is defined in thisinvention, which comprising five regions: upper boundary, left boundary,right boundary, lower boundary and code matrix region; here, theboundary regions are marked for the identification of weave code area.

On the other aspect, the present invention provides a system forutilizing fabric based on weaving, knitting, braiding or other yarninterlacing styles as storage medium, comprising:

-   -   a set of inputting devices configured to input information into        a computer;    -   an encoding module configured to converting information into a        weave code matrix representing by 0 and 1;    -   a manufacturing device configured to manufacture a piece of        fabric according to the weave code matrix, wherein 1 represents        warp on a weft and 0 represents weft on a warp;    -   an image capturing module configured to digitalize the image of        weave code fabrics or related products;    -   a image analysis module configured to identify the weave code        matrix embedded in fabrics or related products;    -   a decoding module configured to converting weave code matrix        into corresponding information;

This method and system can be preferably utilized to developcorresponding flexible, wearable, tailorable products based on weavecode for the purpose of utilizing fabric as the storage medium ofinformation.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of this invention will now be described with the referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the weave code system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the basic structure map of 2-dimensionalweave code;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the hardware and software of weave codesystem;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of weave code manufacturing;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the process of weave coder and decoder;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment, in which the present invention is applied to a method andsystem for the implementation of utilizing fabric as storage mediumbased on weave code, will be described with the reference to theaccompanying drawing. The present invention is not limited to theimplementation of utilizing fabric as storage medium based on weave codebut applicable to product development for the purpose of identification,quality control, tracing, authorization, copyright protection, etc.

Woven fabric is a flexible sheet interlaced by two sets of yarn: warpand weft. The mechanism of yarn interlacing can be regarded as one ofbinary system for information representing and recording in the field ofinformation technology. The weaving machine-loom and its product-fabriccan be considered as the original prototype of computer andtwo-dimensional binary system.

The concept of weave code that means information can be represented,logically operated and transferred by the interlacing style of warp andweft. There are two crossing status mentioned here: warp on the weft andweft on the warp, these two statuses can be formatted in binary system.In the present invention, a principle for coding is defined, which is 1represents warp on the weft and 0 represents weft on the warp.Therefore, the surface of one piece of fabric is a matrix of weavepoints. According to the principle, these weave points present a binarycode matrix. And this binary code matrix can be used for storing andtransmitting information including text, visual signal and audio signal.

Some examples of weave code unit and its mechanism are described intable 1. Weave pattern can be represented as one binary matrix, which isthe combination of these basic weave code unit.

Supposing the yarn number in one weave unit is N, then the number ofyarn interlacing style will be 2^(N×N). When N is equal to 6, then thenumber of weave patterns could reach 2²⁶=68719476736. The yarn thicknesscould be the scale of millimeter, thus one unit of weave pattern canoccupy a small area, and however, the memory capability of it is enoughfor containing all kinds of information, including text, number, figureand music etc.

The color of yarn can also be used to represent information, and appliedin the design of weave code, in this case, the number of pattern in oneweave unit could reach 2^(N×N)·2^(24N)·2^(24N), it provides a very hugecapacity for the information recording and transmitting.

TABLE 1 Mathematic expressions Weave code type Yarn interlacing style Ofweave code One dimensionalweave code

[1 0 1 0 1 0];

[1 0 0 0 1]; Two dimensionalweave code

$\quad\begin{bmatrix}0 & 1 & 0 & 1 \\1 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\0 & 1 & 0 & 1 \\1 & 0 & 1 & 0\end{bmatrix}$

$\quad\begin{bmatrix}0 & 1 & 1 & 0 \\1 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\1 & 0 & 1 & 1 \\0 & 1 & 1 & 0\end{bmatrix}$

$\quad\begin{bmatrix}1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 1 \\1 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 \\1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\0 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 1 \\1 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 1 \\1 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0\end{bmatrix}$ Color weave code

1 1 1 1 1 0 1 12 1 0 1 1 1 1 03 1 1 1 0 1 1 14 0 1 1 1 1 0 15 1 1 0 1 1 1 16 1 1 1 1 0 1 17 1 0 1 1 1 1 00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1–7is the color index, which iscorresponding to RGB color;

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a workflow of preferred method of utilizingfabric as storage medium based on weave code, which has the function ofconverting information into weave code or its reverse processing.

Briefly explained the method would start by the input of informationincluding text, visual signals (image or photo or picture etc.) andaudio signals (music or sounds). Text can be input through the keyboardof computer; visual and audio signals can be digitalized using someavailable digital facilities, which can convert the analog signals intodigital signals, such as digital camera, scanner, recorder and otherdigital facilities.

Almost every type of machine used its own file format for text, imageand audio data, some file formats have been standardized, and in generalit is possible to define conversions between almost any pair of fileformats. In this case, we only describe the mechanism of converting rawdata into weave code.

Text is a combination of characters “A-Z, 0-9, and etc.”, which can berepresented using binary codes, such as ASCII, as shown in table 2. LetX=[x₁, x₂, x₃, . . . , x₈] and

${W = \begin{bmatrix}w_{11} & w_{12} & w_{13} \\w_{21} & w_{22} & w_{23} \\w_{31} & w_{32} & w_{33}\end{bmatrix}},$

X—binary code of one character, x_(i)—the i th bit of X; W is the weavecode matrix of this character, then

$W = {\begin{bmatrix}x_{1} & x_{2} & x_{3} \\x_{4} & x_{5} & x_{6} \\x_{7} & x_{8} & 0\end{bmatrix}.}$

Image is a matrix of pixels, with the gray level varying from 0-255,which can be represented using 8-bit format as shown in table 2. LetP_(m,n)=[p₁ p₂, . . . , p₈] is one pixel, W_(m,n) is its correspondingweave code unit, then

$W_{m,n} = {\begin{bmatrix}p_{1} & p_{2} & p_{3} \\p_{4} & p_{5} & p_{6} \\p_{7} & p_{8} & 1\end{bmatrix}.}$

Audio signal is a stream of audio data, which can be 8 bits unsigned.Let S_(m,n)[=s₁ s₂, . . . , s₈] is one pixel, W_(m,n) is itscorresponding weave code unit, then

$W_{m,n} = {\begin{bmatrix}s_{1} & s_{2} & s_{3} \\s_{4} & s_{5} & s_{6} \\s_{7} & s_{8} & 1\end{bmatrix}.}$

Weave code look-up table is the database of those weave elementscorresponding to information: characters, number, pixel value, etc., sothe raw data could be translated into a new weave code file based onthis look-up table. Before the translating, encrypted process could beadded to protect the information. Our weave code system is compatiblewith any other coding technologies, so weave code products can beencoded or decoded based on any other coding system; it is still in thefield of our invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sample of basic structure map of 2-dimensional weave codecomprising five regions: upper boundary 31, left boundary 32, rightboundary 33, lower boundary 35 and code area region 34; Boundary regionscontains some unique marks to specify the margin of weave code regions,here upper boundary 31 is one row of plain weave

$\left( \begin{bmatrix}1 & 0 \\0 & 1\end{bmatrix} \right),$

left boundary 32 is one column of 2/1 twill weave

$\left( \begin{bmatrix}1 & 0 & 1 \\1 & 1 & 0 \\0 & 1 & 1\end{bmatrix} \right),$

right boundary 33 is one column of 1/2 twill weave

$\left( \begin{bmatrix}1 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 1 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 1\end{bmatrix} \right),$

lower boundary 35 is designed to be one row of weave

$\left( \begin{bmatrix}0 & 1 \\1 & 0\end{bmatrix} \right);$

other designs could also used to identify these four boundaries fromcoding region. Code matrix region contains the codes of information. Itcontains a header, information that describes the attributes of weavecode, followed by the raw data that represents text, visual and audiosignals. The head structure could be defined as:

Typedef struct {  int dataSize;  /* number of bytes of data */  intdataType;  /* the data type */  int info[4];  /* optional information */} WeaveCodeStruct;

TABLE 2 Weave code look-up table I for text Information Binary code(ASCII) Weave code A 0100 0001

$\quad\begin{bmatrix}0 & 1 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 1 & 0\end{bmatrix}$ (weave code matrix) Z 0101 1010

$\quad\begin{bmatrix}0 & 1 & 0 \\1 & 1 & 0 \\1 & 0 & 0\end{bmatrix}$ (weave code matrix) 1 0011 0001

$\quad\begin{bmatrix}0 & 0 & 1 \\1 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 1 & 0\end{bmatrix}$ (weave code matrix) Generaldescriptionof coding [x1 x2 x3x4 x5 x6 x7 x8] $\quad\begin{bmatrix}{x\; 1} & {x\; 2} & {x\; 3} \\{x\; 4} & {x\; 5} & {x\; 6} \\{x\; 7} & {x\; 8} & 0\end{bmatrix}$ (weave code matrix)

TABLE 3 Weave code look-up table II for image Digital image Image matrixWeave code

$\quad\begin{bmatrix}0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 128 & 128 & 255 & 255 & 128 & 128 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 128 & 128 & 255 & 255 & 128 & 128 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 128 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0\end{bmatrix}$

 

 

 

Generaldescriptionof coding Pixel value = [x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 x6 x7 x8]${{Its}\mspace{14mu} {weave}\mspace{14mu} {code}\mspace{14mu} {matrix}} = {\quad\begin{bmatrix}{x\; 1} & {x\; 2} & {x\; 3} \\{x\; 4} & {x\; 5} & {x\; 6} \\{x\; 7} & {x\; 8} & 1\end{bmatrix}}$

The hardware part of weave code system is composed of weaving machine 11(weave code manufacturing), image digitization facility of weave code(code scanner 12), and computer 13 (information management), inputtingfacilities 14 (keyboard, camera, scanner, etc.) and output facilities 15(displaying and printing of weave code) as shown in FIG. 3. The softwarepart of weave code system is composed of four modules: encoding module(encoder 21), code scanning module 22, code analysis module 23 anddecoding module (decoder 24) as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flowchart of weave code system is composed ofthree basic steps from the start of information encoding (weave codegeneration), weave code fabric manufacturing to the final of informationdecoding. There is an information management center to control andmanage the information; WeaveCode Encoder is used to convert informationinto weave code based on the mechanism of encoding algorithm for weavecode; Weaving machine is used to manufacturing the weave code fabric andother products, its mechanism of weaving is described in FIG. 4. Codescanner is used to digitalize the image of weave code products, and sendit for further analysis and decoding; WeaveCode Decoder is used toconvert weave code into information based on the mechanism of decodingalgorithm for weave code;

FIG. 5 graphically depicts a dataflow of preferred method of weaveencoder and decoder which has the function of converting informationinto weave code or its reverse processing. Briefly explained the methodwould start by the input of information including text, visual signals(image or photo or picture etc.) and audio signals (music or sounds).Text can be input through the keyboards of computer; however, visual andaudio signals should be digitalized using some available digitalfacilities, which can convert the analog signals into digital signals.Digital files storing in hard disk or those designs in digital formatalso can be input directly. Weave code look-up table is the database ofthose weave elements corresponding to information: characters, number,pixel value, etc., so the raw data could be translated into a new weavecode file based on this look-up table. Before the translating, encryptedprocess could be added to protect the information. The design of weavecode look-up table could reference to ASCII for the text and somespecial characters as shown in table 2 or self-defined code sets forimage as shown in table 3. Our weave code system is compatible with anyother coding technologies, so weave code products can be encoded ordecoded based on any other coding system; it is still in the field ofour invention.

The algorithms of code analysis module 23 for the weave code system arebased on grid-driven model together with dual side scanning and matchingtechniques. Grid-driven model means that the yarn alignment in fabric ismodeled as grid, and then the yarn tracing style in fabric could beidentified along its central grid according to matching information ofdual side images; dual side scanning means scanning both sides of onepiece of fabric simultaneously; dual side matching means finding thecorresponding pixels of both side images at the same position; thus theimage analysis module has the function of identify the yarn interlacingstatus of fabric (weave code matrix). The code scanning module 22, codeanalysis module 23 and decoding module 24 have been disclosed in a ChinaPatent Application, the application number is CN 200610067478.1.

1. A method for storing information in fabric based on weaving,knitting, braiding or other yarn interlacing styles, comprising:inputting information into a computer; converting each unit of theinformation to a corresponding unit of a binary code; converting eachthe corresponding code unit into a unit matrix of weave code presentingby 0 and 1; or converting each unit of the information to a unit matrixof weave code presenting by 0 and 1 directly; generating a weave codematrix consisting of all the unit matrixes; manufacturing a piece offabric according to the weave code matrix, wherein 1 represents warp ona weft and 0 represents weft on a warp.
 3. The method as recited inclaim 1, wherein the information is a text.
 4. The method as recited inclaim 1, wherein the information is a visual signal
 5. The method asrecited in claim 1, wherein the information is an audio signal.
 6. Asystem for utilizing fabric based on weaving, knitting, braiding orother yarn interlacing styles as storage medium, comprising: a set ofinputting devices configured to input information into a computer; anencoding module configured to converting information to a weave codematrix representing by 0 and 1; a manufacturing device configured tomanufacture a piece of fabric according to the weave code matrix,wherein 1 represents warp on a weft and 0 represents weft on a warp; animage capturing module configured to digitalize the image of weave codefabrics or related products; an image analysis module configured toidentify the weave code matrix embedded in fabrics or related products;a decoding module configured to converting weave code matrix tocorresponding information;
 7. The system as recited in claim 6, whereinthe inputting device is a keyboard connected to a computer.
 8. Thesystem as recited in claim 6, wherein the inputting device is a scannerconnected to a computer.
 9. The system as recited in claim 6, whereinthe inputting device is a digital camera connected to a computer. 10.The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the inputting device is arecorder.